Wots up Doc is an eleven kilometre climbing track from the Red Hills carpark giving access to Unhinged and Maitland Ridge tracks. It has been built mostly on an easy 8% gradient with a digger. For riders not up to riding Maitland Ridge or Unhinged, it still makes a great out-an-back ride through some magnificent bush then climbs up to the open tops of Beebys Knob. From the track you can obtain views to Lake Rotoiti, up the Rainbow Valley and down the Wairau Valley.
From the Red Hills carpark, which is off SH63 down the hill from Rainbow Skifield turnoff to the left just before a one lane bridge if coming from the west, signs lead you off through the bush to a ford across Upper Six Mile Creek.The ford is made of concrete fence strainer posts so in most cases you will keep your feet dry. After 300 metres of so another sign directs you to the left on Wots up Doc. For the next 3.5km to the Lowther track turnoff the track climbs through tall red beech forest and areas of kanuka, which grow on formerly burnt off areas. There are another couple of creek crossings of Upper Six Mile Creek tributaries to navigate along the way. The first, Sam's Ford, can have a reasonable flow of water over it so take care here. Note that Lowther Track crosses a very steep gully before exiting on to Lowther Rd so is not currently rideable, but well suited for walkers.
After the second creek the track climbs up on to a sort of plateau and the Lowther turnoff before zig-zagging its way up to a short link to the Beebys 4wd road. For a short loop you can rid down the 4wd road and back down the highway to the carpark. Carrying on up the track passes through scrub, wilding conifers and open areas utilising less steep parts of the 4wd road to a stretch of silver beech forest. After emerging from the forest and a short stretch of road the track continues up through open tussock country, the odd bit of bush and some steeper parts of the road to the start of Unhinged. Another 500 metres Maitland Ridge Track a sign and markers indicate the start of Maitland Ridge Track.
The Six Mile Creek ford |
Near the start of the track |
Climbing up past Sam's Ford |
Looking across to Rainbow Station |
View across to Lake Rotoiti | A patch of beech forest higher up the track |